Jonsson-Fjallby is expected to come out of the Jets' lineup on Thursday in anticipation of Gabriel Viladri's return. In six games this season, Jonsson-Fjallby registered zero points and one shot on goal while averaging 7:36 time-on-ice.
Kelemen played four of the last five games for the Coyotes but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Juuso Valimaki to return to the lineup. The Slovak-born Keleman averaged 7:15 time-on-ice, registering four hits, two shots, and zero points in four games.
Don't look now, but Blackwood and the last-place San Jose Sharks are playing and competing in hockey games. The Sharks have won three of their last six (3-3-0), impressive totals considering the team's 11-game losing streak to start the season. The Sharks' recent uptick in play is due in part to Blackwood, who has been exceptional lately, recording a .924 SV% in his last eight appearances (3-3-1). That said, the Sharks are massive +429 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) but defeated the Sharks 3-1 on October 19th.
Valimaki will play his first game since November 14th, when he took a puck to the face. Before his injury, Valimaki skated predominantly alongside Troy Stecher and recorded four points (0G / 4A) in 15 games while averaging 18:13 time-on-ice.
Deservedly so, Ingram will start for the third consecutive game after rotating starts evenly with Karel Vejmelka for the first six weeks of the season. Ingram has been sensational this season, responsible for eight of the Coyotes' 10 wins, despite only playing in 12 games himself, boasting a stellar 2.49 GAA and .924 SV%. Ingram has saved 64 of the last 65 shots he has faced (.985 SV%) during a two-game winning streak. Even so, the Coyotes are +164 home underdogs against the red-hot Colorado Avalanche, who have won four straight games, outscoring their opposition 15-6.
Over the past month, Varlamov has started one of every three games for the Islanders, a trend that will continue on Thursday as Varalamov was in the starter's crease at the morning skate. Varlamov has a tremendous 2.30 GAA and .930 SV% through seven games this season, totals positively inflated from a strong start to the season. The 35-year-old goaltender hasn't been nearly as dominant in recent games, allowing three or more goals in four straight outings (1-2-1) and posting a .893 SV%. The Islanders are +179 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have won two straight and rank 12th in the league offensively (3.33 GF / GP).
Luukkonen has been a bright spot in an inconsistent season for the Sabres, as he will likely start for the second consecutive game on Thursday. With Devon Levi being sent down to the AHL, Luukkonen appears to be the favourite in the Sabres' goaltending tandem with him and Eric Comrie. Luukkonen is riding a three-game winning streak and has a sensational .942 SV% in his past five appearances (3-1-0). That said, the Sabres are still +112 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues, who rank in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.86 GF / GP).
Saros will start for the third straight game and look for his fifth consecutive victory as the red-hot Predators are riding a six-game winning streak. After a shaky start to the season, recording only four wins in his first 13 games (4-9-0) and a .892 SV%, Saros has looked more like himself during his current four-game winning streak, boasting a .925 SV%. The Predators are averaging 4.33 goals per game during this six-game stretch and are -115 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that ranks second-worst in the league defensively (3.80 GA / GP).
Bobrovsky is coming off a light, 20-save performance against the Ottawa Senators on Monday, in which he recorded his second shutout of the season in a commanding 5-0 victory. Bobrovsky will return to the crease on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, a team he has been terrific against throughout his career, posting a 2.48 GAA and .921 SV% in 24 games (15-7-1). The Panthers are sizeable -244 road favourites against the Canadiens, who played last night in a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets and rank sixth-worst in the league offensively (2.77 GF / GP).
Grubauer will likely start again on Thursday after allowing four goals on 23 shots (.826 SV%) in Seattle's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Grubauer has been unreliable this season, posting a 3.42 GAA and .881 SV% through 13 games (5-7-0). In addition, Grubauer only has three quality starts this season and has recorded a sub-.890 SV% in each of his last seven appearances (3-3-0). The Kraken are +154 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has won five of their last seven (5-1-1) and ranks in the top half of the league offensively (3.30 GF / GP).
Markstrom was not available to play in the Flames' most recent game, a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, due to an illness, but has been cleared to play and will return to the stater's crease on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Markstrom struggled against the Dallas Stars less than a week ago, allowing four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%), but was very strong in the third period, securing a 7-4 victory for the Flames. Recent success against the Stars aside, the Flames are +119 home underdogs as the Stars have been tremendous on the road this season, posting a stellar 8-1-1 record.
After playing two straight games, his first this season, Hutton will be a healthy scratch, replaced by Samuel Bolduc. Hutton saw limited action in his first two games, averaging 8:46 time-on-ice, playing predominantly on the third defensive pair with Mike Reilly.
Grant Hutton will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Bolduc to re-enter the Islanders' lineup for their matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. Bolduc has been used conservatively this season, averaging only 9:55 time-on-ice through 11 games. He has zero points, six blocks, and seven hits this season.
Sillinger exited Wednesday's loss to the Montreal Canadiens with an undisclosed injury and his status on Friday against the Ottawa Senators doesn't seem promising after he was unable to participate in practice on Thursday. The Blue Jackets also recalled Kent Johnson from Cleveland (AHL), adding to the speculation that Sillinger could miss some time.
Binnington will likely start for the third consecutive game and look to build off a strong 34-save performance (.919 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Binnington has been mostly solid this season, recording a 2.91 GAA and .910 SV% through 16 games (6-6-1), but has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five appearances (1-2-0). The Blues are -122 home favourites on Thursday against a Buffalo Sabres team that ranks in the bottom-third of the league offensively (2.91 GF / GP) and has been wildly inconsistent this season, indicated by their 4-4-0 record over their last eight games.
Jarry allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday and will get the chance to redeem himself, starting his third consecutive game on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite only one victory in his last five games (1-3-1), Jarry has been solid, recording a .911 SV%, but has not received ample goal support, with the Penguins scoring two or fewer in each of those four losses. The Penguins are +113 road underdogs against the Lightning, who have lost two straight games, being outscored 7-2.
Don't look now, but Blackwood and the last-place San Jose Sharks are playing and competing in hockey games. The Sharks have won three of their last six (3-3-0), impressive totals considering the team's 11-game losing streak to start the season. The Sharks' recent uptick in play is due in part to Blackwood, who has been exceptional lately, recording a .924 SV% in his last eight appearances (3-3-1). That said, the Sharks are massive +429 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) but defeated the Sharks 3-1 on October 19th.
Guttman did not play on Tuesday and remains out, day-to-day, with an upper-body injury. Through five games, Guttman is averaging 11:26 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A), scored in his first game of the season.
